2018 Texas Focus Pre-conference: Ready, Set, Go ......Slide 4: Fun and Meaningful Learning • Practice what he can do, not what he can’t. • Playing is effortless learning, connecting

Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired Outreach Programs www.tsbvi.edu | 512-454-8631 | 1100 W. 45th St.| Austin, TX 78756

2018 Texas Focus Pre-conference: Ready, Set, Go! Orientation and Mobility Workshop Family on the Move Thursday, March 1, 2018 3:30-4:15 PM

Presented by

Heather Withrow, Mom, DeafBlogger, Artist, and Coach

Austin, TX

[email protected]

Developed for

Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Outreach Programs

http://www.tsbvi.edu/

mailto:[email protected]

2018 Texas Focus Pre-Conference: Ready, Set, Go! – Family on the Move – Withrow, H. Page 1

Family on the Move

Heather Withrow

Figure 1 Heather swinging with her son, Orion, while other family members look on.

Slide 2: The Withrow Kids

Figure 2 Photo of Anastasia, Orion, and Skyler Withrow.

Anastasia, Orion and Skyler


Slide 3: Orion’s O&M Timeline • Infant to almost 2:

o Physical therapy from 3 different providers (Two EI teams and a private PT)

• 2 years old: o Started O&M services for the first time, in addition to PT. (I remember “reaching”.)

• 7 years old: o Mom started taking graduate O&M classes at Texas Tech

• Today: o Orion is still at it with his rock star COMS!

Slide 4: Fun and Meaningful Learning • Practice what he can do, not what he can’t.

• Playing is effortless learning, connecting and communicating, too.

• Whatever “label” your kid has, he/she is still a KID first.

• “Action speaks louder than words…”-St. Anthony of Padua

• Motivation= Movement

Figure 4 Orion is in his dad's lap; his father tickles his tummy and Orion places his hands over his dad's hand. Orion is smiling.

Figure 3 Two pictures of Orion exploring objects with his hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6kd8Bbcg2Q


Slide 5: Active Learning • Resonance Board

• Little Room

• HOPSA Dress Active Learning information:

http://activelearningspace.org/

Figure 5 Three photographs of Orion using various Active Learning equipment including from left to right Resonance Board, HOPSA Dress, and Little Room.

http://activelearningspace.org/


Slide 6: Whatever Works! • Rail on pegboard

• Playing under the bed

• On the bed

• Hammock swing

• Platform swing

• Lycra swing

• Lazy susan

• Trampoline

• You!

Slide 6: Whatever Works! • Feeling different weights

• Handling large objects o Balls, boxes, foam shapes

Figure 6 Four photos showing things that work for Orion including: platform swing, pegboard, vibrating pillow, hammock swing.

Figure 7 Three pictures of Orion: exploring a pumpkin, exercise equipment, and cardboard.


Slide 7: Home and School Connection 1. Identify at least one O&M skill that is being taught throughout the school day. 2. Learn it and try it at home. 3. Share with family members, interveners, & friends

a. Suggestion: Write a reminder on paper and post it visibly 4. Ask follow-up questions if there’s any confusion or barriers.

Families can request their child’s school O&M specialist to come to the house.

Figure 8 Orion and his COMS at home.


Slide 8: O&M at Home • Mapping of the home

• Concept of home and its functional areas

• Self-Determination

• How? Here are some ideas: o Landmarks (natural & artificial) o His own experiences (don’t carry him) o Hand-Under-Hand o Modeling trailing skills o Pausing (to call for attention) o Follow his lead o “Wait Time”

Figure 11 Orion down on the sidewalk. Figure 10 Orion finds the doorknob with help from his brother.

Figure 9 Orion traveling with support from his COMS


Slide 9: “Common Ground” Activities

• Swimming

• Hot tubbing

• Swinging

• Canoeing

• Sandy beaches

• Sitting in waves of warm water

• Riding with windows down

Slide 10: “Common Ground” Activities

• Hand Games

• Bike and trailer rides

• Rock Climbing

• RV-ing

• Bathtime

• Eating meals together

• Playing on the bed

Figure 12 A series of three photos showing Orion with his siblings: playing with a light toy, riding in the car, lazing on a hammock.)

Figure 13 A group of photos with Orion and his family: bike and trailer rides, playing in the hammock swing, playing hand games.


Slide 11: Take Care of Your “Now” • “Take care of the minutes; for the hours will take care of themselves.” -Lord Chesterfield

• “...then the months and years will take care of themselves.” –Unknown

Figure 14 The three Withrow children playing is a wading pool.

Slide 12: Trying New Things • Orion likes to balance precariously!

• Support his physical experiments

• Security/”Safe Harbor”

• Don’t force him

Keep Trying!

Figure 15 Three photographs of Orion: playing in the sand at the beach, exploring a climbing wall, doing a head-stand with help.


Slide 13: Keep Trying!

Figure 16 Orion in a stroller exploring a travel cane with hands and feet.

Figure 17 Orion with his leg in a cast trying to climb up on a chest.


Slide 14: Keep Trying! • Fun for the family (Set goals and plan for it)

o Struggles: Our hotel stays and botched camping o Fun: RVing at Mustang Island State Park, TX o Looking Forward: Cabin rental with air conditioning

Figure 18 Two photos of Orion and his family RVing at Mustang Island.


Slide 15: Future Activity Goals • More on-water activities

• More rock-climbing

• Horseback riding

• Work on consistency

• Don’t let him con us!

Slide 16: Facebook

A Mom's Musings: Orion the Kid

www.OrionTheKid.com

Figure 19 Two pictures of Orion: rock-climbing with his dad and canoeing with his sister.

http://www.orionthekid.com/


Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Outreach Programs

Figure 20 TSBVI logo

Figure 21 IDEAs that Work logo and US Dept. of Education OSEP disclaimer

Documents

2018 Texas Focus Pre-conference: Ready, Set, Go ......Slide 4: Fun and Meaningful Learning • Practice what he can do, not what he can’t. • Playing is effortless learning, connecting